A CLOSER LOOK INTO THE WORLD OF CHICAGO STREET ART SENSATION: MATR

Seeing beautiful pieces of public art in densely populated areas is not unusual. A rarity is to encounter artwork so compelling that for a moment you’re transported to another time and place. To produce art that can do this requires an abundant amount of persistence and a love for the craft. Both these characteristics are attributes of Chicago street artist a large portion of the last decade to developing his techniques. MATR, who has devoted

The journey began years ago after the aspiring artist left behind a job at McDonald’s and invested his left over money in tattoo equipment. He then began tattooing frequently, yearning to get better each day. The new environment pushed him to draw excessively. Through drawing and gradual tattoo requests, MATR began to grow his portfolio of work.

“From tattooing I learned about realism and that transitioned into works on canvas. Then it opened my eyes to graffiti and doing murals. It went full circle because creating art on different mediums really helped my tattoo work.”

His wife, Chicago artist Kozmo, encouraged him to advance his career by creating more art both in the studio and in the streets. Over the years, he has created a vast body of work in wide-ranging styles, including cartoon influenced creations, surrealism on canvas, and powerful murals throughout the Windy City. With so many different bodies of artwork, it’s difficult to define a signature MATR piece.

Just this past year the artist began to show a new side of himself. Blending techniques he adopted in his tattoo studio, with a style of work found in some of his street art. Through continuous experimentation, a new collection of work has arisen. And the artist has recently transitioned into a beautiful yet sophisticated style.

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Originally published at https://artistreplete.com on May 1, 2021.